The most famous, liveliest and coolest neighborhood of Tirana is Blloku. This area was once restricted to only women and men of the communist party. Today, oen can still see the former house of the dictator Enver Hoxha, now abandoned and surrounded by bars and cafés. Blloku is the place to be in town, a place where it’s impossible to get bored and where fun is the keyword. If you want to spend a gorgeous night out while you are in Tirana, come here.
On the opposite side of Blloku, there is Pyramida, which is not an actual district but the area around the pyramid of Tirana, a giant monument built to honor the dictator Hoxha in the ’80s. Students, skaters and families with children crowd this place during the day, but when the sun goes down, and you are tired of strolling thought the city, go straight to Komiteti Kafe Muzeum, a cozy café located behind the Pyramida. Komiteti is one of the coolest places of Tirana, perfect to taste typical liqueurs such as raki, the Balkan grappa.
Tregu Çam is the central part of Tirana, known for being a prime spot for culture vultures; Albania’s most famous landmarks and museums are located here. If you have time, we suggest visiting all of them because every museum has something special to share with visitors about the history of the country. The largest museum in Tirana, and Albania, is the National Historical Museum in Skanderbeg Square; if you want to learn the history of Albania from the Paleolithic era to the communist era, this is the place to be. The other two not-to-be missed museums are BunkArt2, a museum built inside a coveted bunker in the heart of Tirana and dedicated to the victims of the dictatorship; and House of Leaves, the Sigurimi secret police’s archive turned museum. Once here, don’t miss the chance to visit the Mosque Et’Hem Bey and the Orthodox Cathedral of Tirana.
One of the best places of Tirana is the Liqeni Artificial, the artificial lake situated in the southeast of the town. If you love to spend time out, surrounded by nature, there is no better place than this enchanting natural area, where locals use to spend their free time away from the chaos of Tirana. Albanians use to come here on the weekends, sip coffee, admire the beautiful panorama and relax.
Zona 1, a large neighborhood located between Skanderbeg Square and Lana River, is one of the best places to spend your time in Tirana. The reason why is that it is very close to Tirana’s new market Pazari i Ri, a beautiful bazaar that has become a paradise for foodies. You’ll find plenty of Albanian delicacies, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, cheeses, olives, spices, dried fruits, raki grappa and so on. This market is also home Albania’s largest fish market; there are a bunch of great fish and seafood restaurants nearby; we suggest trying at least one of them. The area hosts many cafés, perfect for sipping Turkish coffee and relaxing. Pazari i Ri is also one of the best places in Tirana to buy typical souvenirs for friends and family.
If you love colorful buildings and international spirit, Ali Demi is the right place for you. Along Bulevard Zhan d’Ark, the large road that line Lana river, there are many political offices, ministries, that give to the city an elegant atmosphere. A not-to-miss locale is Ura e Tabakeve, an enchanting small bridge of the Ottoman-era situated between modern buildings.
